CVE-2009-3158 in simplePHPWeb
Summary
by MITRE
admin/files.php in simplePHPWeb 0.2 does not require authentication, which allows remote attackers to perform unspecified administrative actions via unknown vectors. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3158 affects simplePHPWeb version 0.2 and specifically targets the admin/files.php component. This represents a critical authentication bypass flaw that exposes administrative functionality to unauthenticated remote attackers. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement proper access controls for administrative endpoints, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized administrative operations without requiring valid credentials.
The technical flaw manifests in the absence of authentication checks within the admin/files.php script, which serves as an administrative interface for file management operations. This weakness falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities where systems fail to properly verify user authorization before granting access to privileged functions. The vulnerability allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms entirely, potentially enabling them to upload malicious files, delete critical system components, modify administrative settings, or perform other unauthorized actions that would normally require administrative privileges. The unspecified nature of the administrative actions suggests this could encompass a broad range of operations including but not limited to file manipulation, system configuration changes, or data exfiltration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides remote attackers with elevated privileges within the affected system. Attackers can exploit this flaw from any location without requiring physical access or valid user credentials, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in publicly accessible environments. The exposure of administrative functionality creates opportunities for complete system compromise, data theft, service disruption, or establishment of persistent backdoors. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and T1566 which covers credential harvesting, as the lack of authentication effectively provides attackers with unauthorized administrative access.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper authentication mechanisms for all administrative endpoints, including enforcing session management, implementing strong credential validation, and establishing role-based access controls. Organizations should immediately apply patches or updates to the simplePHPWeb application to address this vulnerability. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit exposure by restricting access to administrative interfaces to trusted networks only. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for unusual administrative activity can help detect exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities in other applications within the organization's infrastructure. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of security controls to protect administrative interfaces from unauthorized access.